The Dales 30 Continued 

Two more of the mountains over 2000ft in the Dales National Park

Yarlside & Randygill Top on a linear walk from Cautley (Sedbergh) to Ravenstonedale 9miles 2700ft

Setting off early morning from the Cross keys Cautley  after crossing the river Rawthey

Heading into the Cautley valley on the path leading.... 

.....to Cautley Spout falls

Looking back down Bowderdale through the hazy low cloud.....

.....with only the summit cairn and my trusty walking pole in view at Yarlside summit 2096ft....

....however a whispered prayer and lo and behold just before I left the summit the cloud lifted revealing splendid views over the Howgill fells...

....and again

 I then headed down to 'The Saddle' which leads across to the climb to Randygill Top 

Randygill Top summit cairn...another rather weary specimen! at 2047ft 

Next came Green Bell with a lone fell runner, my first company of the day....

....with its Trig Point at 1985ft not quite making it into the Dales 30 group but with a great view looking north towards Carlisle and the Solway firth....

I could see Smardale disused railway viaduct from the descent. The line connected Kirby Stephen with Tebay

Now approaching Ravenstonedale my destination

Looking down Scandal beck as it flows through the village

Walking down towards St Oswalds church

Behind the church are the remains of....

A Gilbertine friary, an off shoot from Watton priory near Beverley 

....a section of the ruins

then back into the village centre to the Black Swan a hostelry I new well from previous visits and highly recommend

Especially sat outside with a iced glass of something on a warm day after a great walk!!

Two more Dales 30 completed now just 9 more remaining

 Coniston to Nibthwaite 

via 

Top 'o' Selside, Bethecar Moor & Brock Barrow.  11.5miles 1700ft

Setting off from Coniston village where Donald Campbell's  restored Bluebird is now in the Ruskin museum

Leaving the village across the fields to the lake shore

The steam gondola lake ferry was moored across the lake

On the east side of the lake is Brantwood, The home of John Ruskin from 1872 to 1900

Bluebells proliferated the lakeside fields

I left the lakeside after a couple of miles to start the climb up Bell beck to Top 'o' Selside

The summit cairn soon came into view at only 1102ft

Continuing on the tops I came to the highest point on the moor....

....with a view back to Top 'o' Selside

Descending a little to the west gave a panoramic view of Coniston water with the Coniston fells behind....

 The summit of Coniston Old Man was just in view as the clouds parted....

....just below me was a view down to Peel Island the setting for Arthur Ransomes 'Wild Cat Island' in the novel Swallows and Amazons....

....and little futher south, Park Nab marina

My last top was Brock Barrow standing.....

....immediately above my destination of Nibthwaite village on the lakeside below.....

.....about 45 minutes later I was looking back up to Brock Barrow....

 ....from the side of the lake....

....and a final lake view as I arrived back at the car

A beautiful warm Spring day's walking in some of Lakelands wonderful scenery and less travelled paths.

Return to the 'Dales 30' 

 I've so far climbed 17 of the Dales 30. They are the mountains in the Yorkshire Dales National Park over 2000ft. Today's walk includes two more.

Lovely Seat & Rogan's Seat from Muker in Swaledale 15miles 2600ft 

I parked initially at the top of Buttertubs pass. This is the closest access to Lovely Seat summit, seen here from the pass

Looking back to my car on the pass with Great Shunner fell behind

It's just a short climb of about a mile and 30 minutes to reach the summit cairn at 2215ft, my easiest Dales 30 so far! 

After descending it's a short drive to the pretty village of Muker

Leaving the village behind I set off following the river into Upper Swaledale.....

.....along the riverside path to....

Rampsholme footbridge

Looking up the dale from the bridge

Crossing Swinner Gill, where I left the river to join the Coast to Coast path climbing the gill

It was lovely to see the spring flowers in the now warm sushine on the side of the gill 

Looking back down to upper Swaledale

The path continues climbing past the ruins of  Crackpot Hall

All the way up the gill there is much evidence of previous mining activity.....

....before finally coming out on the summit plateau of Rogan's Seat....

....with it's rather meagre looking summit cairn at 2205ft

The cairn has these Rogan names with initials & dates

Leaving the summit behind I continued down to the waterfall at Botcher Gill Gate which was a very pleasant place to stop for lunch!

....and again

Continuing the descent I soon arrived back in Swaledale at Ivelet bridge....

....for a final couple of miles on the riverside back to....

The Public Hall & St Mary's church in Muker.

A great day's walking in the Dales where I'd not been for a while. I'll be back again soon to have a look at some of the other 'Dales 30' fells I've not climbed yet.